Girdles



April 1965 A. GARSON 3,177,875

GIRDLES Filed Sept. 26, 1961 FIG.4

Z4 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR CARSON BY ZZMr/ZV ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,177,875 GIRDLESArthur Garson, 941 Park Ave., New York, N.Y. Filed Sept. 26, 1961, Ser.No. 140,737 Claims. (Cl. 128-540) The present invention relates tofoundation garments and more specifically to girdles of the type whichare provided with reinforced areas for giving the wearer added supportand increased comfort.

It is well known to provide girdles with reinforcing panels for thepurpose of giving support to the wearer and for the purpose of assistingand complementing the muscles in the lower part of the body of thewearer.

In prior art girdles these supporting features are provided by panelswhich are incorporated in the girdle by securing such panels to thegirdle proper, such securing being done by stitching, by sealing or byother well known laminating means. While proper control may result inthe prior art girdles if these panels have the proper configuration andthe proper stretch characteristics, the method of incorporating thesepanels in the girdle is relatively costly as such method requires thecutting out of panels having the proper configuration and stretchcharacteristics, and as it further involves the necessity of securingthese panels in place. Furthermore, after these panels are secured inplace, say by stitching to the inside surface of the girdle, theperiphery of these panels form contour edges which cause discomfort tothe wearer. If on the other hand the panels are stitched on the outsidesurface of the girdle, then the stitch lines as well as the contouredges become visible when a fitted outer garment is worn thereover.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a girdlehaving all the desirable features normally provided by the incorporationof laminated supporting panels but which does not have the disadvantagesof the prior art girdles pointed out above. Furthermore, the girdle inaccordance with the invention is made in a far simpler manner than priorart girdles and at a greatly reduced cost.

The girdle in accordance with the invention is provided with reinforcedareas which furnish the required abdominal support and the requiredcomplementary. action to the rectus abdominal muscles, the gluteusmaximum muscles and the oblique external muscles of the abdomen. Thesereinforced areas are integral with the girdles as they are formedsimultaneously with the other portions of the girdle. More specifically,the girdle in accordance with the invention is made from a knit fabricwhich, during the knitting thereof, has incorporated therein moreelastic strands along some parts thereof than along other parts thereofaccording to a predetermined pattern. Accordingly, the fabric itself isa unitary length of material having integral portions thereof ofdifferent stretchability with the portions of less stretchabilitygradually blending into the portions of more stretchability withoutproducing any visible line of demarcation therebetween. In this way,rough contour edges are eliminated and the need for stitching on panelsof different stretch characteristics has likewise been eliminated. Theknitting pattern is arranged so as to produce a generally sinusoidalintermediate area, in the fabric, of different stretch characteristicsthan the remaining parts of the fabric. Since the reinforced areas areintegral with the other areas in the fabric, it is possible to form agirdle therefrom with only a single seam therein.

it is therefore an object of the invention to provide 'a girdle havingreinforced supporting portions which is of improved construction andwhich can be made at a greatly reduced cost.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a girdle havingreinforced portions for supporting and complementing the action of ther-ectus abdominal muscles, the gluteus maximus muscles and the obliqueexternal muscles of the abdomen, which reinforcing portions are formedsimultaneously with the other portions of the garment and are integraltherewith.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a girdle havingintegral reinforced portions which are disposed intermediate the upperand lower edges of the girdle. 7

Another object of the invention is the provision of a girdle made of asingle piece of fabric secured together to form only a single seam inthe girdle, and provided with integrally formed portions intermediatethe upper and lower edge of the garment for giving added support to thewearer.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more fully understood from the following descriptionconsidered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the garment in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof,

FIG. 3 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of the fabric used for makingthe girdle in accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 4 is a section along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereis shown the girdle 10 in accordance with the invention. Girdle 10 ismade of a unitary flat piece of fabric stitched together to define seam12 of the girdle. As shown in Fig. 1 seam 12 is the only one in thegarment and defines a front medial seam for the girdle 10. Girdle 10 isbound by an upper edge 14 defining the waistband of the girdle and loweredge 15 delining the leg opening thereof.

Intermediate said upper edge 14 and said lower edge 15, girdle 10 isprovided with an intermediate area 16 which is different in constructionthan the areas 18 and 20 thereabove and therebelow, respectively. Morespecifically, area 16 which is continuous around the girdle, hasincorporated therein a different number of elastic strands than theareas 18 and 20 respectively to thereby be pro vided with differentstretch characteristics than said areas 18 and 20. This area 16defines'support means for the wearer of the girdle, particularly for therectus abdominal muscles, the gluteus maximus muscles and the obliqueexternal muscles of the abdomen. As shown in Fig. 1, at the front of thegarment the area 16 extends from seam 12, in opposite directions,laterally and downwardly, and continues downwardly at the rear of thegarment, as shown in Fig. 2. These areas, as previously stated are ofdifferent stretch characteristics than areas 18 and 20 of the garmentand may for example have greater stretchability along the direction ofthe arrows shown in Figs. 1 and 2'than the stretchability of areas 18and it The particular stretch characteristics are determined by themanner in which the fabric out of which the girdle is made, is knit.

Referring now to Fig. 3 there is shown a fiat segment 22 from a lengthof fabric which is used for making girdle 10 in accordance with theinvention. It will be noted that said flat segment 22 of fabric isunitary though it contains a sinusoidal intermediate portion thereof 24which is of different characteristic than the remaining portionsthereof. Segment 22 is formed by one continuous knitting operationduring which the knitting pattern is arranged in a pre-determined mannerso as to obtain said intermediate portion 24 which is of differentstretch characteristic. This is done by having the knitting patterninclude more or less strands of elastic material during knittingoperation, as may be desired. Accordingly, the knitting operationproduces an integral length of fabric which has included therein saidportions 24 in a pre-' determined manner. In order to make girdle fromsegment 22 of the fabric, it is merely necessary to cut such segment 22along lines 26 and 28, respectively, and along sides 30 and 32,respectively. These sides 30 and 32 are thereafter stitehed'or otherwisesecured together to form front medial seam 12 of the girdle 10. Thus itis seen that girdle 1-0 is made from said fabric length in a mostefficient and direct manner and at a greatly reduced cost.

Due to the fact that the portion 24 is knit integrally with theformation of the fabric itself, there are no clear lines of demarcation,such as stitch lines, at the outlines of portion 24. This is clearlyshown in Fig. 4 where it is seen that portion 24 blends in graduallywith the remaining portions of the length of fabric. It will beunderstood that in the girdle 10 described above, the stretchabilitycharacteristics and the configuration of the intermediate areas havebeen set forth so as to produce, a garment having the desired supportingfeatures for the wearer. Within. the spirit of this invention, however,it would be possible to produce intermediate portions of differentstretchability characteristics and different configuration than thosedescribed hereabove to meet the demands of particular wearers.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will beuunderstood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, aridthat in the illustrated embodiment certain changes in the details ofconstruction and in the form and arrangement of parts may be madewithout departing from the underlying idea or principles of thisinvention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. A girdle formed from a flat segment of fabriccomprising a seamlessone piecelength of'fabric having opposite sides thereof stitchedtogether to form a continuous body encircling memberhaving only a singlevertical seam therein, said member having an upper continuous edgedefining the waistline of the girdle and a lower continuous edgedefining the leg opening of the girdle, said girdle having at least oneintermediate portion of different stretch characteristics than theremaining parts of the girdle, saidintermediate portion being integrallyformed with said remaining parts, said intermediate portionhaving adifferent number of elastic strands than said remaining parts andgradually blending into said remaining parts and whereby no visible lineof demarcation therebetween is visible, said intermediate portion beingspaced from said upper and lower edges, said intermediate portionextending continuouslyaround the girdle, said single vertical seam beinglocated centrally at the front of the girdle.

2. A girdle comprising a seamless one piece length offabric havingopposite sides thereof stitched together to form a continuous bodyencircling member having only a single vertical seam therein, saidmember having an upper continuous edge defining the waistline of thegirdle and a lower continuous edge defining the leg opening of thegirdle, said girdle having at' least one intermediateportion ofdifferent stretch characteristics than the r emaim ing-parts of thegirdle, said intermediate portion being integrally formed with saidremaining parts, saidintermediate portion having a different number ofelastic strands than said remaining parts and gradually blending intosaid remaining parts whereby no visible line of demarcation therebetweenis visible, said intermediate. portion bemg spaced from said upper andlower edges, said intermediate portion extending continuously around thegirdle, said single vertical seam being located centrally at the frontof the girdle, said intermediate portion extending from said seam inopposite directions laterally and downwardly about said girdle wherebysaid intermediate portion is highest at the center front of the girdleand lowest at the center rear of the girdle.

3. A girdle formed from a flat segment of fabric comprising a seamlessone piece length of fabric having opposite sides thereof stitchedtogether to form a continuous body encircling member having only asingle vertical seam therein, said member having an upper continuousedge defining the waistline of the girdle and a lowercontinuous edgedefining the leg opening of the girdle, said girdle having at least oneintermediate portion of different stretch characteristics than theremaining parts of the girdle, said intermediate portion beingintegrally formed with said remaining parts, said intermediate portionhaving a different number of elastic strands than said remaining partsand gradually blending into said remaining parts whereby no visible lineof demarcation therebetween is visible, said intermediate portion beingspaced from said upper and lower edges, said intermediate portionextending continuously around the girdle, said single vertical seambeing located centrally at the front of the girdle, said intermediateportion being thicker than said remaining parts for imparting greatersupport to a wearer of said girdle.

4. A girdle comprising a seamless one piece length of fabric havingopposite sides thereof stitched together to form a continuous bodyencircling member having only a single vertical .seam therein, saidmember having an upper continuous edge defining the was'tline of thegirdle'and a lower-continuous edge defining the leg opening of thegirdle, said girdle having at least one intermediate portion ofdifferent stretch characteristics than the remaining parts of thegirdle, said intermediate portion being integrally formed with saidremaining parts, said intermediate portion having a different number ofelastic strands than said remaining parts and gradually blendingintosaid remaining parts whereby no visible line of demarcation therebetweenis visible, said intermediate portion being spaced from said upper andlower edges, said intermediate portion extending continuously around thegirdle, said single vertical seam being located centrally at the frontof the girdle, said intermediate portions extending from said scam inopposite :directionsl-aterally and downwardly about said girdle wherebysaid intermediate portion is highest at the center front of the girdleand lowest at the center rear of the girdle, said intermediate portionbeing thicker than said remaining parts for imparting greater support toa wearer of said girdle. i

-5. A girdle formed from a fiat segment of fabric comprising a seamlessone-piece length of fabric having opposite sides thereof stitchedtogether to form a continuous body encircling member having only asingle vertical seam therein, said member having an upper continuousedge defining the waistline of the girdle and a lower continuous edgedefiningthe leg opening of the girdle, said girdle having at least oneintermediate portion of different stretch characteristics than thedemaining parts of the girdle, said intermediate portion beingintegrally formed with said remaining parts, said intermediate portionhaving a different number or" elastic strands than said remaining partsand =gradually blending into said remaining parts whereby no visibleline of demarcation therebetween is visible, said intermediateportionbeing spaced from said upper and lower edges, said intermediate portionextending continuouslyaround the girdle, said single vertical seam beinglocated centrally at the front of the girdle, said intermediate portionextending from said seam in opposite directions laterally and downwardlyabout said girdle whereby said intermediate portion is highest at thecen- 6 ter front of the girdle and lowest at the center rear of2,960,855 11/60 Sieiiiano 66176 the girdle. 3,077,758 2/63 Sicilians66-192 References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATESPATENTS 5 11/52 1,1'27,5'44 2/ 15 Stuart 128-555 ADELE M. EAGER, PrimaryExaminer. 2,026,963 1/36 Burns 66-176 2,076,350 7 Roques DELBERT B-LOWE, Examlnei" 2,893,397 7/59 Plehn 128-541

1. A GIRDLE FORMED FROM A FLAT SEGMENT OF FABRIC COMPRISING A SEAMLESSONE PIECE LENGTH OF FARBIC HAVING OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF STITCHEDTOGETHER TO FORM A CONTINUOUS BODY ENCIRCLING MEMBER HAVING ONLY ASINGLE VERTICAL SEAM THEREIN, SAID MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER CONTINUOUSEDGE DEFINGING THE WAISTLINE OF THE GIRDLE AND A LOWER CONTINUOUS EDGEDEFINING THE LEG OPENING OF THE GIRDLE, SAID GIRDLE HAVING AT LEAST ONEINTERMEDIATE PORTION OF DIFFERENT STRETCH CHARACTERISTICS THAN THEREMAINING PARTS OF THE GIRDLE, SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION BEINGINTEGRALLY FORMED WITH SAID REMAINING PARTS, SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTIONHAVING A DIFFERENT NUMBER OF ELASTIC STRANDS THAN SAID REMAINING PARTSAND GRADUALLY BLENDING INTO SAID REMAINING PARTS AND WHEREBY NO VISIBLELINE OF DEMARCATION THEREBETWEEND IS VISIBLE, SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTIONBEING SPACED FROM SAID UPPER AND LOWER EDGES, SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTIONEXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY AROUND THE GIRDLE, SAID SINGLE VERTICAL SEAMBEING LOCATED CENTRALLY AT THE FRONT OF THE GIRDLE.